Author(s) Information

Department

Journalism Department

Degree Name

BS in Journalism

Date

12-2014

Advisor(s)

Patrick Howe

Abstract/Summary

As transgender people and issues have gained prominence in American media over the past few years, more and more journalists find themselves covering a small and marginalized community that they may not have any previous experience with. Using standards set by LGBT media watchdog GLAAD, this study aimed to examine how the prevalence of problematic journalistic practices in covering the transgender community has (or has not) changed in recent years. A content analysis of 1,019 U.S. newspaper articles from 2009 and 2014 revealed some significant changes: almost all GLAAD-identified problematic practices that were studied appeared less commonly in 2014, although most remained in use. Although the appropriate language may change as cultural understandings of gender evolve, the results of this study indicated that news organizations have – to some extent – incorporated the recommended practices put forth by transgender advocates.